1990. Choose a novel or play that depicts a conflict between a parent (or a parental figure) and a son or daughter. Write an essay in which you analyze the sources of the conflict and explain how the conflict contributes to the meaning of the work. Avoid plot summary.

                Every family has conflict.  However, in the play Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, the conflict between Willy and his son, Biff, is more extreme than most.  Although a Biff’s discover of his father’s infidelity triggers the downfall of the relationship, the two have problems that are much deeper and date back much further.  Miller uses literary techniques to describe and give reason to the father-son rift, and then uses the broken relationship to show his audience what is wrong with how we live our lives.

                Miller provides his audience with details and makes good use of a foil in order to show just how terrible of a father Willy is.  It is not that he doesn’t love his sons.  The problem, however, is that Willy is always giving his sons terrible advice, as made evident through use of a foil, Charley.  Willy tells Biff to blow off school, and to be well liked.  Charley tells his son, Bernard, to study hard.  Willy laughs at his son’s theft.  Charley teaches Bernard right from wrong.  Willy and Charley are quite obviously opposite.  These differences shown in the past culminate in the lives Biff and Bernard created for themselves.  Miller provides us with very impressive details about Bernard’s life.  He is clearly successful, and Miller tells us he is off to argue a case in front of the Supreme Court.  Clearly, Charley’s advice was good advice.  It follows naturally that Willy’s, being opposite, was not.  Biff resents his father for allowing him to feel so entitled.  He did not think he had to work, and now that he realizes he does, it is almost as if he can’t.  This is the root of the strain on Biff and Willy’s relationship. 

                Miller uses Willy’s incorrect parental guidance to show is what is wrong with society.  Willy believes that the key to success is being well liked.  The reader is forced to examine the world we live in to find the root of this belief.  Miller is telling us through Biff and Willy’s dysfunctional relationship that our society is superficial.  All we care about is popularity, and about things looking nice on the outside.  We don’t care what’s underneath.  That is why Willy’s appliances are always falling apart: quality.  Nobody in today’s world cares about quality.  Willy represents a far greater number of people than just himself.  American society as a whole believes that you don’t have to work hard, you can simply skate by if people like you.  Miller sees something inherently wrong in this fact, and highlights it through Wily and Biff’s dysfunctional relationship.